Antony rules out military involvement in Afghanistan

India today made it clear that there was no question of it joining US-led military operations in Afghanistan, saying it did not foresee such a situation "now or in the future".

"I am saying categorically that there is no question of Indian military involvement in Afghanistan," defence minister AK Antony told reporters here at a Coast Guard event regarding the US suggesting India to join its military operations in the troubled South Asian nation.

"I do not foresee such a situation, not now or in the future," he said to a question if the recent Indo-US army counter-insurgency and anti-terror exercise using tanks and paratroopers was aimed at future joint operations in Afghanistan.

Antony said India was involved in Afghanistan for humanitarian aid, reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

At the recent joint military exercise in Babina, Uttar Pradesh, a US Army commander had said that his troops would be comfortable operating with Indian troops in the future anywhere and anytime, and that the fortnight-long exercise that ended on Monday was aimed at achieving inter-operability.